Lori Milano, the Fort Lauderdale, Florida city code enforcement chief, resigned from her job, effective August 12, 2005. Four months ago, Milano was suspended from her job after city officials learned that she was the target of a federal criminal investigation. In March, Milano’s office’s was searched pursuant to a federal search warrant authorizing seizure of her computers and certain files.

Milano's brother, Scott Johnson, plead guilty to filing a false tax return. Her sister-in-law, Samantha Johnson, plead guilty to conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, money laundering and filing a false tax return in 2000. Samantha Johnson was accused of helping lead a $5.5 million mortgage fraud scheme, allegedly spearheaded by Mary Jo Bellavia-Sabag. The Johnsons are scheduled for sentencing in October.

According to news reports, Milano's attorney said city officials had accused Milano in a July 19 memo of canceling a code violation notice on the property owned by Samantha Johnson in November 2003. According to her attorney, the notice related to a type of code violation that Milano’s office did not enforce and the notice would have been cancelled irrespective of who it was issued against. News sources report that her attorney stated that Millano didn’t want to return to work after receiving the notice.

Milano has not been charged with committing any crime.

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